Towards Employment

Since 1976, Towards Employment has helped more than 100,000 low-income and disadvantaged adults in Greater Cleveland prepare for jobs, get jobs, keep jobs, and move up the career ladder. We believe people coming off welfare, out of prison, or from the streets have complex lives, with multiple barriers to employment. And to prepare them for long-term success in the workplace, we have developed a pathway to employment.

Our mission is to empower individuals to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through employment. We connect low-income or disadvantaged job seekers with Cleveland-area employers looking for reliable staff with solid work ethics and skills. These are truly win-win relationships. We help people prepare for a job, get a job, keep the job, and then move into a career, providing employers with dependable, trained new hires and helping them reduce turnover costs.

We provide 2- and 4-week job readiness workshops, job search and placement services, and one-on-one coaching and support to our clients in the first 6 to 12 months of a new job. Our efforts are also designed to help our clients to move from entry-level jobs into jobs that have room for advancement and increased earning potential. At the same time, we offer supportive services — including legal services, GED classes, transportation and childcare assistance, tools, and uniforms — that work to remove specific barriers to employment.